Hard Times: A photo series on homelessness

Photographer Dave LaBelle spent the year photographing the homeless and telling their stories.

Sept. 2009 -- Karen Loy, 60, sits in the cab of her Nissan pickup truck after sleeping on the front seat in a parking lot. Photo by David LaBelle

Richard Hanson is a 75-year-old homeless veteran.

August 8- Jeanette "Jett" Maland,51, was married 21 years, jointly owned a home and a business in Cambria, before her life was turned upside down and she found herself homeless.

Car mechanic Paul Bagu, 49, says he couldn’t believe the situation he was in suddenly, and one day found himself pushing a shopping cart up and down the streets of Ventura.

Diana Contreras is the mother of three boys, ages 16, 13 and 11, and all have been homeless since her apartment flooded, staying with friends. “But I do worry about the future for my children,” she said. “I want the best for them. My boys want me to go to college to have a better future,” Contreras said. “I want to be something, maybe a teacher? As soon as I get situated in a place maybe I can do that?”

July 19, 2009. Deanne Morales remains hopeful even when times are tough. She works hard at a full-time job to provide for her 7-year-old son. Photo by David Labelle.

August 2, 2009. Sally Wall recently found herself out of a job, and a place to live. She has been through a variety of ups and downs and but keeps a strong will that she is confident will help her pull through. Photo by David LaBelle.

July 5, 2009. Samatha Strausbaugh has been sleeping on friends floors and in her car for nearly two years and just wants a place to call home. She currently holds down two jobs in addition to taking college classes. Photo by David LaBelle.

June 21, 2009. Bruce Munoz, father and grandfather, uses his past mistakes as lessons. He turns to his family and the church for support when times are rough. Photo by David LaBelle.

May 31, 2009. Teiera Pettiford had been living on the street and in hotels for over a year when she turned to the Tender Life Maternity Home for help. She has since started her own small business. Photo by David LaBelle.

May 17, 2009. Jeff Schettler became homeless after losing is job six months ago. He currently works part-time and hopes for a full-time opportunity. Photo by David LaBelle.

May 3, 2009. Rebecca Alvarez, 30, is currently living in the Lighthouse Women and Children’s Mission in Oxnard. She hopes to save money in order to go back to school and start a career. Photo by David LaBelle

April 13, 2009, Ventura- Donald Sommerfield, 60, has been homeless for about four months, sleeping in his car. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, he has made his living substitute teaching that past two years. Photo by David LaBelle

Jerry Reich, 53, a Santa Paula native, and Shadow, 8 months, camp just outside of Santa Paula. This photograph was taken last week on Santa Paula’s Mill Street.

December 10, 2009 Ventura: Dene Mesick, who is homeless, poses for a photograph on Main Street, December 10, 2009.